Deitch as Ayatollah

"An anonymous L.A. street artist spoke out Thursday about MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch's decision to paint over another artist's mural that he had commissioned -- making a statement in the form of a provocative piece of guerrilla poster art glued to the exterior wall of the restaurant Zip Fusion Sushi on Traction Avenue and Third Street in Little Tokyo...The anonymous artist asked a friend, John Carr --  a political poster artist himself and part of the street art collective Yo! Peace -- to relay a statement about the new mural to Culture Monster: 'A giant antiwar mural right in the heart of L.A.’s political district was erased by the museum staff just after it was finished. MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch claimed it was potentially offensive to the community. Can there be a more perfect example of censorship? Does it not border on Orwellianism to call it something else?"'"

Read the Los Angeles Times article HERE.

800lb Artist Pablo Power interviewed on ArtCards

"Pablo Power merges text, photography and painting to echo the ephemeral life of the unseen. Passionate about documenting not only the lives but also the lifestyles found just outside city limits, Power submerses himself in grimy subculture and finds that it isn’t so bad." Check out the rest HERE.

Blu's mural censored by MOCA

Shepherd Fairey's take: "I’m not a fan of censorship but that is why I, and many of the other artists of the show, chose to engage in street art for its democracy and lack of bureaucracy …
However, a museum is a different context with different concerns. It would be tragic for the break through of a street art /graffiti show at a respected institution like MOCA to be sabotaged by public outcry over perceived antagonism or insensitivity in Blu’s mural. Graffiti is enough of a contentious issue already. The situation is unfortunate but I understand MOCA’s decision. Sometimes I think it is better to take the high road and forfeit a battle but keep pushing to win the war."

See our artist's work at Splashlight

We've had two parties at Splashlight (75 Varick) and the art is still making the space look sweet. Go check it out until the end of February.

Check out some pics on facebook (and while you're at it become a fan): HERE and HERE.

Eco Artist

Although the party has passed, we still wanted to post about Inhabitat’s 5th Birthday Bash featuring DJ M11X, 800lb Artist Mikal Hameed. Inhabit is a weblog devoted to green design. Mikal, being an eco artist and a great DJ with an eco friendly sound system, was an obvious choice to make the party jump.

Using Real Artists in Advertising - Josh Goldstein

In 2009, Target commissioned Josh Goldstein, one of four other collage artists, to create a New York City themed billboard using the Target bull's-eye in Times Square. When the billboards came down in October, 2009, the vinyl was used by designer Anna Sui to create 1,600 awesome tote bags. Not only is this kind of advertising environmental but also a breath of fresh air amongst the sameness of most advertising campaigns.

Check out the handbags on the Target website HERE.

Steven Cogle, Shine on Sierra Leone and Celebrity Apprentice

Steven Cogle's piece Sierra Leone adorns the office of the charity Shine on Sierra Leone. Yesterday on Celebrity Apprentice, Victoria Secret model Selita Ebanks, who is playing for the charity, delivered her winnings personally to the office. Check out Steven's piece starting at 80:40.